Newly renovated Skyview campus opens

Construction crews were still working on the North Valley School for Young Adults addition and community library when school officials cut the ceremonial ribbon to open for the revamped Skyview Campus late in the afternoon Aug. 24.

Voters approved funding in November 2010 to match a $32 million grant from the state to overhaul the Mapleton Public Schools’ Skyview Campus at 8990 York St. in Thornton.

“This investment was made in our students and our school district, so we thank you very much,” Superintendent Charlotte Ciancio said at the ceremony. “Without the generous matching grant, this campus overhaul wouldn’t have been possible.”

The campus expansion included building two state-of-the-art buildings that house two schools each: Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts (grades 7-12) and Mapleton Early College (9-12) are in one building; and the Academy High School (9-12) and Clayton Partnership School (K-8) are in the other.

After the ribbon cutting, community members were able to tour the two new buildings.

Board of Education President Norma Frank praised the expansion, saying students deserved the new schools.

“These spaces are designed specifically for our school model and specifically to meet the needs of our students,” she said. “We hope you’re pleased with how we invested your dollars.”

The classroom wing on the original Skyview building was demolished earlier in the summer to make room for new soccer and baseball fields. The rest of the building, including the auditorium, gymnasium and welcome center, is being renovated and upgraded. Work on the Skyview and North Valley buildings, along with the community library, is expected to be completed in January 2013. The district also renovated York International, 9200 York St., to fit its small-by-design structure, which was implemented in 2006. Students moved into the new 18,000-square-foot section of that school in January. The rest of the K-12 school had been renovated previously.

Mapleton Public SchoolsSuperintendent Charlotte Ciancio (at the podium) and Board of Education President Norma Frank give opening remarks before the ceremonious ribbon cutting at the overhauled Skyview Campus late in the afternoon